MC & F Holdings Incorporated - Mcchia Foundations - Mechia Foundations Market Survey Sweepstakes Lottery Scam Waterloo Ontario Canada

June 22, 2009: My husband received a letter from MC & F Holdings Incorporated at the address noted as "Award Notification." The letter informed us of the "results of the Market Survey Sweepstakes Lottery Program held on June the 11th, 2009." It contained a ticket number and claim number along with the chosen lucky numbers won in the lotter in the 3rd category. A ticket that we did not purchase or recall completing.

The letter was accompanied by a check in the amount of $4886.64 drawn on JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in Dallas TX, on account titled Mcchia Foundations at 3195 Dowlen Rd #101-416 in Beaumont TX 77706. The check was "deducted" from the alleged winnings that we were approved for in the amount of $135,000 by certified check, delivered by special courier. The letter asks us to contact a claims agent, Mr. Jim Wilson, at 1-778-858-1754. The check is for paymnet of Canadian Non-Resident Government Services Tax (GST) in the amount of $3.685.21, and for payment instructions to contact the same agent and number.

Several things gave clues to being a scam/fake. The letter and numerous gramatical and punctuation errors. Highlighted items were clearly obvious as fill-in boxes. The signature did not match the name and title on the letter and was clearly a photocopy of a facsimile signature, exactly as on the check. The MICR encoding on the check isn't real - it's photocopied. The name of the business on the check, accountholder, does not exist and when researched on the Internet, turned out to be misspelled as Mcchia instead of Mechia.

Noted as a non-profit foundation in Texas however unable to verify any 501(c)3 documentation or non-profit tax identification number. Researched the phone number on the Net and found it to be noted on numerous scams as well as the address on the check, as well as a cell phone number and not of a business. Whether or not the check is real, this is a scam to harm the unsuspecting consumer, YOU. The obvious use of a US business name, address, and bank then the information coming from an alleged foreign - yes Canada is foreign - entity. Definite clues to be wary.

Called the number out of curiosity. The respondent told us to deposit the check and to call back with any information - that was an odd statement and request. When asked how we were selected, we were asked if we used our credit card at a WalMart, JCPenneys or other major retail store lately, which most consumers would say yes. We countered with if our credit card company were sponsoring a contest then the information would have come from our credit card company. The respondent then simply told us to deposit the check and within a few days once the check cleared and we called him back that we would be instructed on how to pay the GST and receive our winnings. I have found similar reported scams on the Internet under another company name such as Union Finance, LLC. describing the same method of notice with a check drawn in the US and a letter from Canada.

This is the first that I've seen of this type of scam in our area. PLEASE be wary and suspicious when receiving an unexpected check in the mail claiming that you've WON a sweepstakes or lottery that you did not enter! Who can this be reported to? Local authorities will not do anything until something actually occurs - possible financial or security information loss.

Anonymous
Reno, Nevada
U.S.A.